Upgrading stereo

[chrisbond69]

hi times come to look into the stereo on my car after the girlfriends honda civic stereo mine sounds crap, so im looking at replace the standard speakers with upgraded ones and fitting an amp, i dont want to spend huge money as im not a stereo head, just want something a bit beefier and with more quality sound, now i dont want to put 6x9" in the parcel shelf id really like to utilise the origional positions, so can anyone help please, and give me a good idea of what costs and sound im gonna get for what amount of money

many thanks in advance guys

chris

 

[Steve GTI]

TBH a set of components in the door running off the standard head unit and a set of 6x4's in the rear slots will probably do you. Costing maybe £150.

Or you could get components front and rear running off a 4 channel amp which you'll need HI-LOW convertor thingy which makes your speaker output's into Preout's. Looking at £350.

Then you could add a 10" or a 12" sub and a mono amp and for this you could spend anywhere from £200 - £££££££££

Depends what you want.

 

[AaronM]

As steve says above really really does depend on how much you want to spend!

A good start would be a new head unit (needs to be custom fitted) some new components and sound deaden the doors!

If your not to keen on custom fitting a new HU then just some Speaker wire to RCA convertors to run the amp and amp the front components.

Sound deadening is a must on the front doors i my books, it will improve depth, clarity and punch.

 

[PhilW]

Or use an amp with hi-level inputs instead od using converters for speaker wire to RCA.

 

[bartsimmo]

As above really but I'd upgrade the door speakers and run them off an amp (£200). I wouldn't bother with anything else in the rear appart from a sub may be at a later date. Thats what I've done and sounds pretty good. What is your budget for better sounds?

 

[chrisbond69]

Um about 400 ish thats self fitment as the lads at work are avionics so can do that for me liking the sound of components and amp and then 6x4 in original spots

 

[MarkMinivan]

I was in the same situation as you and after some research I went for a 2 channel amp with some decent components in the front which cost me £400 all in.

Like someone mentioned earlier sound deaden! The best money you can spend is on some dynamat for the doors, my door cards were rattling like mad before i spent £20 and an hours work on the dynamat.

Since i did that i've added a second mono amp and a sub, which was another £400 and its sounding pretty good now, considering its all running off the standard HU.
Figuring out what to do about the HU situation is my next job...

 

[PhilW]

Did you run it off the hi-level inputs on the amp or use hi-level converters to rca?

Anyone know what would be better sound wise?

 

[chrisbond69]

cool im in the habbit of shopping around for prices too trying to find the best price so hopefully if i can sort out what i need then i can try find the best deal for these items please help

 

[Black20VT]

Well, I just disconnected the rears and replaced them with a powered Pioneer sub. The front speakers aren't too bad, but just adding a powered sub for about £60 did the trick for me. Cheap and very happy with the results! My Mrs also has a Civic and I've a better balanced sound. So much so, she's enquiring about an powered sub now aswell

 

[MarkMinivan]

Did you run it off the hi-level inputs on the amp or use hi-level converters to rca?

Anyone know what would be better sound wise?

If that was aimed at me then I have no idea. I didn't do the component install myself ,I had it done by Autosounds in Newcastle. I will ask them how it was wired the next time i'm in.

 

[darrenh]

Mine has the front speakers replaced with Rainbow SLX 265 components. The the rear speakers have been disconnected (I'm not in the back!!). I've amped them and the 12" sub and I think it sounds VERY good considering it's running from the standard head unit - tbh, I couldn't have it any louder and it's still clear as a whistle.

My speakers are only £100 now, and I bought the amp ages ago (Sony, Xplod) for £50 in the sale. Whack a sub in for bass, and you're sorted. If you can make it all neat yourself - then under £200 sorted.